How to Identify a Yellow-Brown Moth

Note the size of the moth. Very large moths may be members of the family Saturniidae. These moths have small heads and mouth parts with very large, hairy wings. Unlike other moth species, they lack a frenulum, which attaches their wings to one another. Consequently, the hind-wings can move independently of the fore-wings. The io moth is a common member of this family in the U.S. It is primarily yellowish brown, with bright markings and two large dots resembling eyes on its hind-wings. The wingspan of io moths is two to three inches and it is found primarily in warm climates. The imperial moth is also commonly found in the U.S. and can be identified by its large wing span and brown and yellow color patterns.

Look for bands of color. The rose hooktip moth is light brown at the top of its wings and yellow at the bottom. The colors don't fade into one another. Rather, this moth has clear blocks of color. It lives primarily in the eastern U.S. and lives in deciduous forests. These moths are small- to medium-sized, with a wingspan of one to two inches.

Check for dots. A moth that is bright yellow with small brown dots on its wings is likely a yellow tiger moth. These moths have oval-shaped wings and may have faint black dots on their bodies. Their legs and antennae are a bluish gray color. They live primarily in warm climates in the southern U.S. and their caterpillars are brown with short, fine hairs.

Look for long streamers coming out of the moth's rear. Though most luna moths are green, some species are brown with yellow bands of color. The wingspan of these moths is four to five inches and they frequently have orange or brown circular markings on their wings that resemble eyes.